Piston-packing for steam-engines.



No. 891,220.- BATENTEDJUNE 16,1908.

J, J. MOGEE.

PISTON PACKING FOR STEAM ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10. 1907.

2 BHEETSSHEET 1.

\\ g I'l ii No. 891,220. PATENTED JUNE 16, 1908. J. J. MoGEE. j

PISTON PACKING FOR STEAM ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED 811F116. 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET '2.

1 i-lincmm JOHN J. McGEE, OF NEW YORK, N.

Y., ASSIGNQB OF ONE-HALF TO ANTH'ONY F. S. GEOGHEGAN,

' OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PISTON-PACKING FOR STEAM-ENGINES.

. Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented June 16, 1908.

Application filed September 16, 1907. Serial No. 392,975.

To all whoin it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. MoGEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, in the borough of Brooklyn and State of New York, have invented cer-' tain new and useful Improvements in Piston- Packing for Steam-Engines, of which the fol' lowing 1s a full, clear, and exact description. My invention relates to a construction of piston acking, particularly for steam engines, a though t e invention is not limited articular field of use, being enerally applicahle in all cases where a tight y fitting plston movable in a cylinder is required.

In my com anion applications, Serial N 0. 391,419 and' erial No. 392,974, I have described. constructions of piston packings which are morees ecially applicab e to ex plosion engines an fluid pressure pumps respectively. For use in steam engines, special conditions aris'ewhich make. certain special or additional features of construction necessary or desirable. ,Steam cylinders run in considerably larger sizes than those of explosion engines, and are more frequently .disposed in a horizontal than in a vertical position. 'The. result is, that a comparatively heavy iston bears with its whole wei ,ht. on one sid e of the wall or bore of the cy inder. This is a disadvantage, since the real functions of the cylinder bore or wall should be to merely furnish a surface for the packing rings to work against. Using the piston bore as a-bearing surfacein addition toits prpiper function, is liable to cause uneven an excessive wear at the side where the bearing pressure occurs, unless special means are ada ted to preventthis.

Iii-"a dition to the above characteristic, steam engines are ordinarily expected to give service without renewal of any of the parts for long-periods, and with this end in view, all the bearings, pitman connections, etc.,

. are made with means by which wear can be compensated forfrom time to time. One or both of the cylinder heads is ordinarily easily removable, so the piston can be inspected. In .view' of these facts, it .is extremely desirable to have the iston constructed with various adjustments y which a considerable amount of wear can be corrected or compensated for, without actual renewal 'of any part.

In carrying'out the present invention, I have had these various objectsin view, and 'am.

able to provide a form of piston for steam detail section on the engines which is adapted to thelargest or small sizes, and which will give service for a length of time corresponding to the various bearings and other parts of-a steam engine, .withoutrequiring renewal of any of its elements. g

The present invention also aims to obtain greatly improved steam tight efiiciency in the piston of a steam engine. I aim to revent the packing rings from working sldewise-or laterally in their containing grooves thus developing wear and looseness in increasing proportion as such wear and looseness continues, with the attended leakage. I also aim to keep the packing rin s impelled against the wall or bore of the cy inder with a constant and evenforce under all conditions,*which does not vary or-diminish under high temperatures within the cylinder when the engine is working. I In this ,way,

the rings are always kept ti htly borne against the wall of the cylin er-so as to solutely preclude leakage, but not so tightly as to cause undue wear or friction. At the same time, the esca of steam down the sides and beneath the rings is absolutely prevented.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a piston for steam cylinders embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. '2 is a transverse sectional view on the line IIII of Fig. 1, the segment ring being in side elevation. Figs. 3 and 3 are pers 'ective views illustrating a form of joint whic I'cmploy in the segment rin and also in the acking ring. Fig. 4 is a side e evation of one ohthe packing rings on a slightly reduced scale. Fig. 5 is a similar view of what I shall term the ressure transmitting rin Fig.6 a simi ar view showing one of t e s rm rings. Fi 7 is a line IIVII 0 Fig. 2. Referring to the drawings in which like parts are designated by the same reference sign, 1 indicates the main core or body of the piston which is centrally apertured to receive the iston rod 2. The core 1 of the piston is ma c with a portion 3 of quite reduced diame ter for the greater portion of its len th, being provided with a narrow flan e 4 o subst'antially the size of the cylinder ore on the side gorresponding to the crank end ,of the cyliner.

' 5. i'ndicates a plate or flan e bolted to the otherl end of the piston core 3 y the screws or similar fastening devices 6. In this way there is provided a large s ace or groove'7 of rectangular section aroun the core 3 and between'the end of the plates 4 and. 5. Within this s ace I provide what I shall term a body or bu 1 ring 8 which is of a width to be closely clamped between the end plates or disks '4 and 5. This body or bull ring has a central eripheral groove 9 and deeply cut specially ormed recesses 10 at its two 'side edges.

The groove 9 is adapted to contain the segment ring previously referred to, while the recesses 10 contain the packing rings later more fully described. The bottom of the groove 9 is made V- shaped in transverse section, and at its bottom side is interrupted by cavities 11- which.

receive certain adjustable bearing blocks 12, portions 13 of the surface of which are adapted to form a continuation of the V-shaped bottom of the oove 9. The bearing blocks 12 rest on rect ear ways or ides 14 forming part of the body or bu ring 8. The engaging surfaces of the blocks 12 with the ways 14 have a V-shape analogous and substantially parallel to the surfaces 13 above described.

15 indicate set screws mounted in suitable projections on the body ring 8 and bearing against the blocks 12 so as to force them longitudinally on their ways'14. The ways 14 are inclined in a slightly outward direction,

approaching the outer circumference of the piston, so that when the blocks are forced together by the set screws 15 their surfaces 13 will lie at agreater radial distance from the center of the body ring than before.

- 20 indicates the segment ring made in a plurality of segments or sections. Three separate segments are shown, each having a form of'lapped joint fully described and to fit 'that of Fig. 3 exactly in all respects.

The inner surfaceofthe segment 20 is made- V-Shaped as indicated at 23 to cooperate with the V -shapd inner surface of the groove 9.

24 indicates a spring ring WhlCh may be employed to impel the sections of the segment ring outward, so that this ringwillexert a steam packing function asfwell as its particular purpose of a bearing for the piston in its movement. On the lower side of the iston, the segment 20 engages the V suraces 13 of the blocks 12, the entire weight of the iston bei transmitted to this segment t ough sai surfaces. By reason of the V recess construction shown, the weight containing groove.

of the piston keeps the lowermost segment 20, on which it rests, in an absolutely concentric position-against-the surfaces 13 of its Accordingly, as the piston moves to and fro in the cylinder, there is no lateral knocking back and forth of the segment ring in its groove, which would take place with considerable resultant wear in the absence of the V recess structure described, or some other similar means; The body or bull ring 8 is adjustable in a'vertical direction with respect to the piston 'core'3 which is fixed on the piston rod. For this purpose, the core 3 is provided with laterally eXtending lugs or projections 27, while thering 8 has corresponding inwardly extendinglugs' or projections 28.

29 indicate bolts joining the respective lugs or projections, and the adjustment of which obviously varies the relation of the core 3 and the ring 8 in a vertical direction.

The packing rings are designated 30 and have a single lap joint of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 3 and a curved peripheral surface a'da ted to contact with the cylinder wall. T e inner surfaces of the packing rings 30 are made inclined or conical in the .manner shown at 31 (see particularly Fig. 1.)

32 indicates the pressure transmitting rings which. are absolutely solid in construc tion without any lap or joint whatever,'unless a joint is madein-the process of manufacture and afterwards bolted together to form a solid ring. .The pressure transmitting ring 32 has two cone surfaces designated 33 and 34. The ring 32 is designed to move endwise of the piston in which movement its surface 34 exerts a wedging action upon the conical surface 31 of the packing ring 30. The effective angle or power factor of the wed ing action. may be made anything desire andin practice I make this greater than unity, as indicated in Fig. 1.

35 indicates a spring ring having a conical or wedge surface 36, which engages the correspon surface 33 of the pressure transmitting ring and cooperates therewith to impel the pressure transmitting ring in its lateral movement. The power factor of the wedging action between the surfaces 36 and 37 may be made anything desired in the same way as that between surfaces 31 and 34, but in practice, I prefer to make this'also eater than unity in the manner shown in ig. ,1.. Making both wedge factors greater than unity, results in the non-parallel character of the two wedging faces of the presand it is evident that the transverse section of this ring wilL vary according to the par ticular Epwer factors of the two wedging ac- 38 Indicates. springs contained in suitable recesses in'the body or bull ring Sand bearc are exerted .on the packing ring through its cooperation;

ing against the spring ring 35. The tension I of these springs may be adjusted or'increased by set screws or similardevices 39 accessiblefrom the interior of the piston.

In use, the packing rings 30 are borneoutwardly against the cylinder wall partly by their own resiliency, but mostly by the pres sure transmitted from the pressure transmitressure in a way to preserve the true circuar outline of the packing rings. The pres sure transmitting ring 32 being solid and quite substantial, is incapable'of any appreciable deformation, so that this ring remains absolutely circular under all circumstances.

Accordingly, the packing rings which should be fairly light and flexible, are constrained to; keep perfectly circular in outline, notwithstanding continued wear and increasing expansion against the cylinder walls. The internal spring ring-35 is stiff enough to exert all necessary force on the pressure transmitting ring 32, but should this ring vary from its true circular outline when it expands, no harm will result, because of the permanent circular character of the .ring 32 through which the pressure must be transmitted. The same statement applies to the spiral springs 38, which, of course, exert their ressure only at distributed points aroun the circumference of the piston. The spring ring 35 and the springs 38,. having only a spring tunction, may be made of steel or material most adapted for their particularpurpose, and they are adapted to continue to give good service notwithstanding the temperatures. a plied to them within a steam cylinder. n the other hand, the-packing rings 30 having substantially no spring function, may be made of bronze or copper which is an admirable material from the standpoint of packing efliciency and wearing qualities. The ring'32, having only-a pressure transmitting function, may be made of cast iron or any rigid material;

' In addition to the above characteristics of kee ing the packing rings circularintheir .kee

out inc and constantly pressed against the cylinder Walls regardless of wear, etc., the special arrangement shown and'having a plurality of win s with conical surfaces, also s the paciing rings from knocking back an forth in their grooves, and also insures a steam tight fit of the packing rings against the grooves on both sides. It is evident that the pa'king rings are cammed toward the center' line of the them. In this way, the resultam; compositeso as to adjust thebearing blocks 12 down- ;ward, causinga greater outward displacewith a V-shaped bottom, a. ri

plurality of segments and having a bottom iston, while the spring, rings 35=are camme in the opposite direction or toward the end plates 4 and 5. The intermediate pressure transmitting rings 32' bearagainst both the packing rings and the spring rings, and preclude steam passing between packing ring fits this groove tightly, avoiding wear and leakage of steam.

In use, the bearing blocks 12 are adjust-- able by their set screws 15, sothat the weight. of. the piston will be borne by the lower segment 20 of the segment ring when the piston is pro erly centered on its piston rod in the cylin er. From time to time as,w'ear occurs, the set screws 15 may be screwed up tightly ment of the lower segment 20' compensating for its. wear. The other segments may be substitutedfrom'time to time should one become worn excessively.- If the cylinder wall becomes worn ofi", or for any other reason such adjustment becomes necessary, the bolts 29 may be. turnedto let down the body Q ring 8 with respect to the core 3.110 which the piston rod is attached.

The latter adjustment in the case of small pistons; is all that is required for taking up the wear, in which case the bearing blocks 12 may be omitted,

and the segment ring 20 repose in a continuous circumferential groove of the piston.

What I claim, is: 1. In combination with a piston body hav ing a groove with lateral plane faces, a pack- 1 ing having a transverse width adapted to closely fit said groove com rising a packing 10 ring, .a solid ring within sai packlng ring and having a wedging enga ement with the packing'ring when moved aterally to impel the packing ring outward, and spring means for lmpelling said solid laterally.

2. In a piston, a body having a groove formed in a surface corres onding to that of said groove, and adjustabl means acting exclusively on the lower side of the piston for supporting the weight of the piston on a segment of said In a piston, a body having a groove with a V-shaped bottom, a ti formed in a plurality of segments and having a bottom surfacecorresponding to that of said groove, and means for supporting the weight' of the piston on ascgmentof said ring, said means ing adjustable to vary the position of said piston w1th respect to. the ring.

. 4. In a piston, a bod having a groove, a

ring formed in a lura 'ty of segments and having aV-shape bottom surface, and hearing blocks adjustable toward and from the center of the piston and having V surfaces to enga e the .V-shaped bottom of said ring.

5. n a piston, a bod having a groove, a ringformed in a dplura 'ty-of segments and having a V shape v bottom surface,- and bearing blocks adjustable toward and from the center of the piston and having V surfaces to engage the V-sha ed bottom of said ring,

bearing blocks having V-shaped surfaces to engage said segment ring and movable on inclined ways or guides directed toward the circumference of the piston, and set screws for adjusting said blocks on their inclined guides. v

8. In a piston, a body having a groove interrupted by depressed portions, inclined ways co'ntainedin said; depressed portions,- a ring in said groove and having a V-shaped bottom, and bearing blocks with separate v shaped surfaces to engage said ring and said ways.

9.- In a piston, a body having a groove interrupted by depressed portions, inclined Ways contained in said depressed portions, a ring in said groove and having a V-shaped bottom, bearing blocks with separate'V- shaped surfaces to engage said ring and said ways, and means for adjusting the bearing blocks" toward the circumference of the piston. v

10. Avpacking, for pistons comprising a I packing r1ng having a conical surface, a ring within the same having a conical surface engaging. that of said packing ring, and an additional ring having a conical surface engaging that of the second mentioned ring.

V ling said solid-ring'laterally.

11. A packing for pistons comprising a packing ring having a single lap or joint, a solid ring within the same and having a Wedging engagement with the packing ring when moved to laterally impel said packing ring outwardly, and means for impelling saidsolid ring laterally. I

12. A packing for pistons comprising a packing ring having a single lap or joint, a solid ring Within the same and having a wedging engagement with the packing ring when moved laterally to impel said packing ring outwardly, and a spring ring for impel- 13. A packing for plstons comprising a packing ring having a single j oint, a solid ring within the same and having a wedgliiigg engagement with the packing ring to place the latter outwardly, and a spring ring within said solid ring having awedging engagement therewith to displace the solid ring laterally. A

14. A packing for pistons comprising a packing ring having a single joint, a solid ring within the same and having a wedging engagement with the packing ring to displace the latter outwardly, and a spring ring with in said solid ring having a wedging engagement therewith to displace the solid ring laterally, one of said wedging engagements having a ratio greater than unity.

15. A packing for pistons comprising a packing ring having a single joint, a solid ring within the same and having a wedging engagement with the packing ring to displace the latter outwardly, and a spring ring within said solid ring and having a wedging engagement therewith to displace the solid ring laterally, ,both of said wedging engagements having a ratio greater than unity.

16. A packing for pistons comprising a packing ring having a single joint, a solid ring within the same and having a wedging engagement withthe packing ring to displace the latter outwardly, a ring within said solid ring, and a plurality of spiral springs acting on the latter ring to impel it against said solid ring.

17. A packing for pistons comprising apacking ring having a conical surface, a pressure transmitting rlng movable laterally and engaging said surface, and havingan additional conical surface, and a spring ring having a conical surface engaging the last-named conical surface of said pressure transmitting ring.

l8. packing ring having a conical surface, a pressure transmitting ring having a conical surface 'engagin that of the packing ring, and having an additional conical surface, and a ring'having a conical surface engaging the last mentioned conical surface of said pressure transmitting ring and impelled by the pressure thereof in'a ateral direction opposite to that in which said packing ring is im pelled by its engagement with the "pressure transmitting ring.

19. In a piston, a core having laterally extending lugs, a body ring surrounding said core and having inwardly extending lugs, and bolts connecting said lugs whereby said body ring may be adjusted vertically with respect to said core.

In witness whereof, I subscribe my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

'JOHN J. Moons.-

, Witnesses:

WALno M. CHAPIN, J AMES DAN'roNIo.

A packing for pistons comprising a 

